"Slay the Immortals, purge the traitors, raise the army, proclaim righteousness!"
The voice thundered like rolling lightning, shaking heaven and earth, jolting all who heard it awake.
Yet when those words reached Pan Luo's ears, they condensed into just two words—rebellion!
"Chen Sanshi, how dare you?!"
The commander of the Great Halberd Battalion roared, "You're barely past your twenties, yet already you hold the ranks of Grand Commander, Duke of the Realm, and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet! The court has given you honors beyond measure—what kind of wolfish ambition drives you that even this isn't enough—ah!"
"Boom!"
Before his words were finished, Wang Zhi had already moved. His Black Tortoise True Qi surged layer upon layer, condensing into the form of a giant tortoise descending from above. The crushing force split both man and horse clean in half, blood spraying across the fields.
At the same time, Feng Yong, Xu Bin, and others struck in unison. The Great Halberd Battalion soldiers who had moments ago been whipping peasants and trampling crops were all slaughtered where they stood, their blood soaking into the soil.
"Stop!"
"Chen!"
"The Immortal Master commands you to stop!"
Qu Yuanxiang had been shouting all along, but no one paid him any mind. Enraged, he summoned his flying sword. Immortal energy surged as he prepared to strike—until the white-robed figure before him turned slightly, meeting his gaze.
Those deep, emotionless eyes were utterly calm—cold, still, and unfathomable.
It was the same look he had seen earlier… when Chen Sanshi looked at the spiritual grain.
A chill crawled down Qu Yuanxiang's spine. In that instant, he remembered that Chen Sanshi had already reached the True Force Realm. At the Battle of Wucheng, he had slain Zou Hu and Han Xiang in succession. Against such power, how could he possibly be a match?!
His hand froze mid-spell. He turned and fled into the sky, desperate to escape.
But it was too late.
No one saw how the white robe moved—only a dragon of flame that leapt heavenward. The next instant, Immortal Master Qu Yuanxiang, with his sword and all, plummeted from the sky. A gaping, charred hole had been burned through his chest. He was dead before he hit the ground.
An immortal—killed.
For the people of Liangzhou, this was the first time they had ever witnessed the death of an immortal being.
The white robe killed an immortal as easily as slaughtering a chicken or dog.
Within a few breaths, the prefect was captured, the battalion commander slain, and even the immortal had fallen. The soldiers of the Great Halberd Battalion froze in place, panic spreading through their ranks. They didn't know whether to flee or kneel.
"Brothers of the Great Halberd Battalion, listen well!"
Wang Zhi raised his modao high, his voice echoing through the dawn. "The Grand Commander has fought for this land countless times! You more than anyone should remember—during the Blood Sacrifice Formation of Liangzhou, if not for Chen Sanshi leading the Hongze Battalion through ten thousand li of freezing blizzards to storm Wolf Juxu Mountain and destroy the formation's core, we'd all be nothing but pools of blood by now! Do you remember?!"
"We… we remember!"
"We remember!"
"Of course we remember!"
That day—
The heavens had turned red with blood.
They had gathered outside the Luotian Mountain Range, praying for a slim chance of survival, while the world collapsed and the blood mist thickened. They couldn't even raise their heads.
It was the white robe, far away, who tore open the clouds, brought light back to Liangzhou, and gave them their lives.
That debt—they would never forget.
"The Grand Commander risked everything for Liangzhou, for the Great Sheng Dynasty! During the Battle of Guandu, we nearly ran out of food—just one more day and our grain would've been gone!"
"Even then, we held on! We fought until Wucheng burned, until we crushed the enemy's army!"
Wang Zhi's words rang like iron against steel. "And while we shed blood for the dynasty, traitors in the court cut off our supplies and our escape! They wanted to bury 150,000 brothers alive at Guandu!"
"Now the truth is exposed!
"The traitors in court want to lure the Grand Commander to the capital, frame him for murder, and destroy him! Tell me—will we allow it?!"
Days ago, under the arrangement of Fengchu Fang Qingyun, the truth of Yunzhou and Guandu had spread across the army on secret notes. Though quickly suppressed, the truth couldn't be buried.
And rumors of the Yan Faction's corruption had long been known.
The people were furious. The soldiers—infuriated.
Especially the soldiers.
They were men of the borderlands. While they fought to the death on the front lines, someone back home was stabbing them in the back.
That thought alone was enough to make one's blood run cold.
And from that coldness—boiled rage.
"We will not allow it!"
The Great Halberd Battalion roared in unison.
"Good!"
Wang Zhi's modao gleamed under the dawn light, his shout shaking the sky. "Then hear this! The Grand Commander rises not for power, but for justice! To cleanse the court of traitors! If you stand with him, you are brothers still! If you defy him—then you will share the same fate as Pan Luo and Qu Yuanxiang!"
"I'll count to three!"
"Three!"
"Two—"
Before he even finished counting, the soldiers of the Great Halberd Battalion fell to their knees like waves collapsing, shouting as one:
"We swear to follow the Grand Commander to the death!"
In an instant, one army became two.
Chen Sanshi—renowned across the realm, holder of the Grand Commander's seal, rightful master of the northern armies—now stood at the head of a new force.
And with the truth of Yunzhou and Guandu still burning in every man's heart, uniting the troops came as easily as breathing.
Soon, the Hongze Battalion and the Great Halberd Battalion worked side by side, uprooting every stalk of spiritual grain in the fields outside Liangzhou City. They piled it high and carried it to the Great Wall to feed the flames.
Dark smoke rolled into the sky.
For 800 li, beacon fires blazed, turning the northern heavens black.
Then, using the severed head of Governor Wu Youde as the banner's sacrifice—
The great uprising began.
From the moment the white robe rode out of Liangzhou City, seized command of the Hongze Battalion in Dongyi City, burned the spiritual grain, and raised the army, all of it unfolded in a single unstoppable surge—swift as thunder, fierce as lightning.
From start to finish, it took barely one hour.
Now—
The eastern sky began to pale with dawn. The stars faded, the moon sank, and behind the mountains, the sun prepared to rise.
The supervising eunuch Enouch Hou had invited Immortal Master Wang Jun, leading a small escort to the Grand Commander's residence.
By original schedule, in half an hour, the Grand Commander's household would be departing Liangzhou for the capital.
"At last, our mission's done," Enouch Hou said cheerfully.
Ever since receiving the imperial edict, he had lived in quiet dread.
If Grand Commander Chen refused to obey—if he refused to go to the capital—Enouch Hou himself might not have lived to see another sunrise.
But thankfully, everything had gone smoothly.
From the day the imperial edict was received to the moment he voluntarily withdrew from the army, the white-robed man had not shown even the slightest trace of resistance. In the past few days, the observers sent to monitor him had all reported the same thing—the Grand Commander's Mansion had been busy packing, and there were already more than ten wagons of various sizes lined up, ready to move.
And now—
While lost in thought, Enouch Hou arrived at the front gate of the Grand Commander's Mansion and saw for himself the rows of wagons lined along the street. Everything looked properly arranged and ready to depart.
"Grand Commander, since fate allowed us to meet, this humble servant came personally to see you off."
He spoke cheerfully, but as his gaze swept through the open mansion gates, the smile on his face froze.
It felt like a thunderclap inside his mind.
Inside the vast courtyard, daily goods and valuables were piled high—silks, gold, silver—but not a single human figure could be seen. The wind blew through, carrying the chill of autumn, and the whole place felt desolate, empty, and cold.
Wang Jun, standing on his flying sword, circled the mansion twice before landing with a frown. "There's no one here."
"They left early? No, that can't be right. Why would they leave all their things behind? And shouldn't they have waited for General Lü's escort before departing?"
The eunuch Enouch Hou felt a growing unease in his chest. The more he thought, the colder his hands grew. He turned to summon his men.
Then—
"Bad news! Terrible news!"
A rider galloped down the street at full speed, barely managing to stop before falling straight off his horse. Breathless and stammering, he shouted, "Chen… Chen Sanshi… he's rebelled! He's rebelled!"
"Rebelled?!"
Enouch Hou's eyes rolled back as the world spun. He nearly collapsed, only staying upright because a servant caught him. Clutching his trembling orchid fingers, he shouted, "Quick! Notify General Lü at once! Immortal Wang, you—you must go and see—Immortal Master? Where are you going?!"
Only then did he see that Wang Jun had already soared into the air on his sword. "Chen Sanshi has broken through to the True Force Realm. He even killed Han Xiang! What do you expect me to do? Fight him? I'll deliver your message instead!"
With that, he formed a sword seal and shot skyward, fleeing Liangzhou City as fast as lightning.
He had barely survived the Battle of Guandu, narrowly earning his sect's Foundation Establishment Pill quota. Now all he had to do was wait quietly for the pill to be distributed, and he would likely form his foundation and ascend the path of immortality. How could he possibly stay behind to die now?
A cultivator must never flinch when forced to fight for his life—but neither should he risk that life for nothing.
As for Qu Yuanxiang…
He had gone out early this morning to meddle in that business with the spiritual grain. Judging from the flames and smoke rising outside the city, he was almost certainly dead.
That fool. He had been warned—do not provoke the white robe.
If he wanted to seek death, no one could stop him.
The flying sword's speed surged, and Wang Jun vanished into the far horizon.
At the Marquis of Martial Might's Residence, deep within its courtyard, Lü Ji sat cross-legged before a bronze incense burner.
Dense purple smoke coiled upward like mist, surrounding him and lifting his body inches from the ground. The incense vapor twisted and weaved like a nest of violet serpents, threading through his seven orifices and into his body.
"Senior Brother!"
"Something's gone terribly wrong!"
Third Brother Nie Yuan rushed into the courtyard, panic etched across his face. "Junior Brother—he's lost his mind!"
"Buzz."
The incense flame flickered out. The purple mist vanished instantly. Lü Ji slowly descended to the ground, opening his eyes with composure. "Calm yourself, Third Brother. Speak slowly."
"This morning…"
Nie Yuan took a deep breath to steady himself. "Junior Brother Chen secretly sent his family out of the city. Then he went to Dongyi City, killed Chu Shixiong and Xia Cong, seized command of the Hongze Battalion, and afterward beheaded Pan Luo outside the city! He uprooted every stalk of spiritual grain in the fields and used them to ignite 800 li of beacon fires—he's declared open rebellion!"
Lü Ji closed his eyes for a long time before opening them again, voice calm as still water. "Inform the court immediately. Summon every garrison stationed outside the city. Surround them—do not let him escape."
But—
Not long after, Nie Yuan rushed back in, pale and breathless. "Xu… Xu Wencai is with him! He moved troops last night! They've already marched toward the Liang–You border!"
The Zhenbiao Battalion and Northern Garrison Battalion—both under the command of Wolong Xu Wencai—were elite units jointly commanded by him and Martial Saint Fan Hailing.
At that very moment, their armies were already advancing toward the front lines.
Inside the command tent, Xu Wencai sat stroking his pointed beard, his fan resting against his lap. Across from him, Fan Hailing stood tall and broad-shouldered, silent and grim.
"General Fan," Xu Wencai said slowly, "have you made your decision?"
"I have."
Xu Wencai's eyes narrowed slightly. "You understand what we're about to do?"
"I do."
"And you're willing?"
"Of course." Fan Hailing nodded firmly. "From this day on, my life belongs to the Grand Commander Chen. If he says march east, I'll never turn west."
Xu Wencai laughed softly. "Didn't expect you to be so straightforward. Good! Come then—let's drink to it. From this moment, we live and die as brothers-in-arms."
"That's right! Cheers!"
Fan Hailing downed the wine in one gulp, setting the bowl down with a heavy thud. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sharp gazes of Deng Feng and Ye Fengxiu, standing behind Xu Wencai, one gripping the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, the other the Phoenix Cry Limitless Sword.
He had no choice but to comply.
"Old Xu," Fan Hailing said after a pause, pounding his chest. "Let me lead the first charge later. I know Commander Guan Xin of the Heavenly Wolf Battalion. Within twenty rounds, I'll take his head and present it to the Grand Commander myself."
If he had to prove loyalty to survive, then he would do it with a kill.
"Good!"
Xu Wencai snapped his fan shut and nodded approvingly. "Then I'll count on you, General Fan."
Pan Mountain Slope—the border between Liangzhou and Youzhou.
After the Battle of Guandu, a total of four garrisons had been stationed there: Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, Heavenly Wolf, and Flying Bear Battalions.
But now, both Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon were without their commanders—leaderless, their command structure in disarray. The two battalions had been temporarily relocated to the great gorge near Pan Mountain Slope, their subordinate officers reshuffled entirely.
Every lieutenant had been replaced. Every banner reassigned.
The winds of rebellion had already begun to move.
The Heavenly Wolf Battalion and Flying Bear Battalion were stationed inside the main fortress, watching over the situation within Liangzhou, ready to march at any moment.
"Military order incoming!"
Just after dawn, a lone rider galloped toward the camp.
"General Fan?"
The sentries on the watchtower recognized him and called out, "General Fan, what brings you here?"
"Urgent command from Liangzhou!"
Fan Hailing shouted, voice echoing through the cold morning air. "Quick, summon your Commander Guan!"
"Please wait, General Fan!"
One of the soldiers ran to report.
Moments later, the Heavenly Wolf Battalion's main commander, Guan Xin, rode out to meet him. "Old Fan, what's happened in Liangzhou?!"
"Chen Sanshi has rebelled!"
Fan Hailing's expression was grim. "Come closer—Lord Xu has an urgent message for you!"
"He's really rebelling?!"
The moment Guan Xin came within reach, Fan Hailing suddenly struck without warning. Guan Xin hastily drew his blade to block, and the two clashed violently.
"Fan Hailing! Have you gone mad?!"
The sound of thundering hooves filled his ears. As realization dawned, Guan Xin roared, "So you've joined Chen Sanshi in rebellion?!"
At that moment, the Zhenbiao Battalion and Northern Garrison Battalion arrived. One group surrounded Guan Xin while the other charged toward the main fortress.
The soldiers inside the Heavenly Wolf and Flying Bear camps were caught completely off guard. Panic spread like wildfire as chaos erupted.
"Brothers, charge!"
Deng Feng, riding a dark-blue stallion, joined forces with Ye Fengxiu and Rong Yanqiu, three Martial Saints in total, storming the main gate together.
"Don't panic!"
The Flying Bear Battalion's commander, Gu Yongzhou, rushed over, desperately trying to restore order and rally his troops.
But soon, another dire report came.
"General!"
"Bad news!"
"The Azure Dragon Battalion and Vermilion Bird Battalion are attacking too!"
They were now surrounded—front and rear, trapped with no escape.
"How is that possible?!"
Gu Yongzhou's eyes widened. "Rong Yanqiu and Ye Fengxiu are right there in front—then who's leading those two battalions?!"
"No idea! There's an old Martial Saint wielding a blade, a young woman with a staff, and even the officers who were dismissed recently—they've all returned! We can't hold them back!"
"Boom—!"
A deafening explosion shook the ground.
The fortress collapsed.
The Heavenly Wolf Battalion's commander, Guan Xin, had already been cut down by Fan Hailing.
Deng Feng and the other five Martial Saints fought together like unstoppable gods of war, cutting straight through the battlefield until they surrounded Gu Yongzhou. With enemies before him and no way back, he was trapped in a death corner.
"Old Gu!"
Fan Hailing shouted, "Surrender now! Swear allegiance to the Grand Commander Chen, and you can still live!"
"Traitor!"
Gu Yongzhou's eyes blazed with fury. "Do you think I fear death?!"
He roared and charged forward, his Profound Manifestation Realm strength bursting forth, but against five Martial Saints, he was instantly slain.
The tide of battle shifted swiftly.
The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Battalions attacked from behind. The Zhenbiao and Northern Garrison Battalions pressed from the front, completely surrounding the Heavenly Wolf and Flying Bear Battalions.
"Listen well!"
Deng Feng's voice boomed across the mountains. "The Grand Commander Chen has raised his banner in righteous rebellion! Those who swear allegiance—lay down your arms! Those who resist—will be killed without mercy!"
The words struck like thunder.
"White Robe has rebelled?!"
The soldiers of the Heavenly Wolf and Flying Bear Battalions erupted in confusion and disbelief.
An old general stepped forward. "The Northern Liang Army is a loyal and righteous force of the Great Sheng! How could Chen Sanshi drag us into rebellion and destroy the lifelong honor of our late Grand Commander?!"
"That's right!"
"How can the Young Grand Commander act like this—how will he face the old Grand Commander in the afterlife?!"
"For decades, our Eight Northern Battalions have fought and bled across the realm. How could we now become traitors?!"
"You old fools!"
A voice cut through the uproar.
Sun Buqi, wearing a dark-blue robe and carrying a long spear on his back, rode up on horseback and mounted the platform. "How are we traitors for rising up?!"
"Young Master?!"
"Young Master, you've been coerced by Chen Sanshi too?!"
"Young Master, don't do this! To defy the late Grand Commander's loyal name—it's madness!"
"Madness?" Sun Buqi's voice rang loud and clear. "The court is rotten with treacherous ministers! Their suspicion of my father didn't begin today—it's been festering for years! They only feared his command over the armies, so they delayed their move!
"And now, they summon my brother-in-law, Chen Sanshi, to the capital. For what purpose, do you think? To strip him of power first, then frame him for treason and destroy him!"
He swept his gaze across the crowd, his words striking deep. "And when that happens, what do you think will become of me—Sun Buqi, the last living heir of the Sun family?!"
"Furthermore—before my father died, he personally handed the Dragon Gall Silver Spear to Chen Sanshi before the whole army! Later, he even married my elder sister to him. Do you think that was without reason?!"
"Enough said!"
"Every one of you has followed my father for decades. If you truly still honor the Sun family, then recognize my father's chosen successor!"
"Young Master!"
"We…"
"We will follow!"
And so—
Four battalions became six.
With the Hongze Battalion and Halberd Battalion still stationed outside Liangzhou City, the Eight Great Northern Battalions were once again united under one banner.
The 100,000 troops of Northern Liang had all fallen under the control of the White Robe.
After seizing military power with thunderous speed, the six battalions, under Xu Wencai's command, split their forces—one branch advancing toward Youzhou, the other marching south to sever Liangzhou City's supply routes and cut off its retreat.
According to long-established custom, after the autumn harvest, grain from the northern prefectures would be divided into two routes—one shipped by river to the capital, the other sent west to supply the three northwestern provinces that maintained the Northern Liang Army.
But now, the harvest had barely ended, and the amount of grain was already scarce. With the roads completely cut off, Liangzhou became a true isolated fortress. The stores within the city could not last long.
As long as this city fell, they could secure their foothold across Liangzhou and Youzhou, and then plan their next advance.
A few short days later, the rebel army surrounded Liangzhou City.
"Third Brother!"
Cheng Wei rode to the city gates, shouting up from below, "Liangzhou is completely surrounded! You've got only two options—abandon the city and flee, or open the gates and surrender. There's no third path!"
"Second Brother, have you all lost your minds?!"
From atop the walls, Nie Yuan glared down in fury. "Do you really want to drag our entire sect into ruin before you're satisfied?!"
"Cut the crap, Third Brother!"
Meng Guangxin picked up a rock and hurled it upward. "It's the imperial court that pushed us to this! They forced our hand! You've already lost—open the gates now before you drag more innocent people down with you!"
"Fine, say you've won."
Nie Yuan's voice trembled with anger. "Then what happens next? You've rebelled—traitors to the throne! Even if you take Liangzhou and Youzhou, how will you survive in this world afterward?!"
"Enough nonsense!"
Meng Guangxin's eyes bulged, his voice full of defiance. "The court is crawling with treacherous ministers, corrupting the state! We march south to purge the court—to cleanse the Emperor's side!"
"Cleanse the Emperor's side?"
Nie Yuan sighed heavily. "Fifth Brother, you're far too naive. What if His Majesty truly sees through those traitors and executes them? When that happens, what reason will you have left to keep fighting?"
Meng Guangxin's mouth opened, but no words came.
Their uprising had begun under the banner of self-preservation, using the chaos as justification to seize control of 100,000 Northern Liang troops. But once the traitors were purged, the excuse of "cleansing the Emperor's side" would vanish, leaving their rebellion without a cause—a war with no righteous name.
"Slay the Immortals!"
Cheng Wei stepped forward and said solemnly, "The Immortals are merciless, spreading poison through the land. The Northern Liang cavalry swears to eradicate all spiritual grain from this world!"
"What a joke!"
Nie Yuan's voice rang sharp with scorn. "You think the Great Sheng Dynasty is the only one with spiritual grain taxes? Western Qi, Southern Xu, Eastern Qing—each of their levies is heavier than ours!
"If the court first purged the corrupt and then issued an imperial decree—ordering you to attack those nations, promising that for every one inch of land conquered, the people would be freed from one inch of spiritual tax—would you fight them?
"You wouldn't! You'd still strike against your own court, your own people, and your own emperor! So don't pretend this is righteous! Calling it 'slaying immortals' doesn't change what it is—a rebellion!
"The scholars of the world won't stand with you! The people will curse you for bringing war to their homes! No matter how you frame it, your cause is without legitimacy!"
Cheng Wei and Meng Guangxin stood frozen, speechless.
The attempt to persuade them failed. They had no choice but to return to camp.
"Senior Brother," Nie Yuan said with a sigh when he came back to the inner walls, "I told them everything I could. But… do you really think His Majesty will go that far? Yan Liang has served him loyally for a lifetime. Would he really kill him over a few memorials?"
"I know His Majesty too well," Lü Ji replied. "He will."
The burly man sat before a Go board, his massive hands dwarfing the small black stone between his fingers.
The world knew Lü Ji as a man of overwhelming martial strength, but few knew that Fang Qingyun, the Phoenix Chick, had once taught him the art of Go beneath an old pagoda tree.
He placed a stone lightly upon the board. "With the two moves the court has already made, our little junior's grand momentum will crumble. Once that happens, the Northern Liang Army will have no justification to keep fighting."
"But at least," Nie Yuan mused, "the little junior shouldn't face the death penalty.
"If the court kills Grand Secretary Yan, it'll prove our junior wasn't wrong. When that time comes, we can use our connections to plead for leniency. At worst, he'll lose his title or be lightly punished—maybe his family moved to the capital. He might even be allowed to stay in Liangzhou afterward.
"So in the end, this rebellion might actually benefit our sect."
"Perhaps," Lü Ji said, his gaze fixed on the board. "But for now, obedience is the wisest path. Follow my instructions. I'll make sure this chaos ends here in Liangzhou."
In the rebel army's central command tent, Meng Guangxin and Cheng Wei returned and repeated their conversation with Nie Yuan.
When they finished, everyone fell silent.
"That old dog spoke the truth," Wang Zhi muttered. "Throughout history, the so-called 'cleansing of the Emperor's side' only succeeds when the ruler truly favors corrupt officials—refusing to punish them no matter how many memorials arrive. By the time the rebel army reaches the gates, the ruler finally turns against his favorites—but by then, it's too late.
"But if the Emperor acts swiftly and executes those same officials first, then the 'cleansing' loses all meaning. The rebels become nameless criminals."
He exhaled deeply. "And I have no doubt—our Emperor will do exactly that."
"Little Junior," Rong Yanqiu said, waving her hand in front of the white-robed man who was quietly reviewing the army's grain ledgers. "Say something. What should we do?"
"One Wolong, one Phoenix Chick—together they can bring peace to the world," Xu Wencai said smugly, waving his feather fan. "Now that both of us serve under the Grand Commander, how could the world remain in chaos? Don't worry. With Fang Qingyun in the capital, our uprising will have its righteous cause soon enough."
Meanwhile—
In the Imperial Capital, as chaos consumed the northern frontier of Liangzhou, a different storm was already brewing.
It was the seventh day of the ninth month, seventy-sixth year of the Longqing Era.
On the eve of his seclusion, Emperor Cao Kai left the capital to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple outside the city. Yet halfway there, Fang Qingyun, the Phoenix Chick, blocked the royal procession and submitted three memorials before all.
The first memorial accused the Immortals of cruelty.
The second memorial denounced the Emperor's blindness.
The third memorial condemned the traitorous officials.
It was that third memorial that struck like thunder.
Before tens of thousands of citizens, Fang Qingyun revealed the truth behind the "Ten Days of Yunzhou" and the "Three Prefectures of Guandu," and then listed ten crimes committed by the Yan family—father and son—begging His Majesty to punish them without mercy.
A storm broke across the capital.
The accusations spread everywhere, and chaos followed. But with evidence incomplete and both sides standing firm, Emperor Longqing issued an imperial decree: Grand Secretary Yan Liang was to be suspended from office and sent home for "nourishment." Meanwhile, Prince Jin Cao Huan and the two princes, Prince Qi and Prince Qin, were ordered to investigate the case thoroughly.
Then came this day—
News arrived that Chen Sanshi of Northern Liang had rebelled. The already turbulent capital shuddered again.
Inside Zhongjue Hall, factions clashed.
On one side stood Prince Jin and Ming Qingfeng, leading their allies.
On the other, Prince Qi, Prince Qin, and Yan Maoxing, representing the Yan faction.
When the sealed message arrived—reporting that Liangzhou had rebelled and that the White Robe now commanded 100,000 troops—the hall fell into a deathly silence.
After a long pause, Ming Qingfeng was the first to speak. He jabbed a finger at Yan Maoxing and roared, "Yan Maoxing! Look at what you've done! The people hate you, the heavens curse you! Because of you, even the border generals have turned their blades on the court!"
"Ridiculous! Where's your proof?!"
Yan Maoxing's face twisted with anger. "You'd condemn me based on a few forged letters and the gossip of nameless wanderers? This is all your scheme, Ming Qingfeng! You and that fox Fang Qingyun, together with Chen Sanshi, plotted this rebellion just to seize power! It's not Chen Sanshi rebelling—it's you!"
"Enough!"
"Shouldn't we be discussing how to deal with the rebellion first?!"
"Silence, fool!"
"Has the court not shown him favor beyond measure? How dare he act like a traitor!"
"Calm yourselves," another official interjected. "General Lü Ji still holds Liangzhou City. He can defend it for some time. And with his strength in the Divine Path, I daresay Lü Ji might even surpass the White Robe himself!"
"The real root lies in Guandu," someone else said coldly. "Arrest Yan Maoxing and his father—once they fall, Chen Sanshi's men will scatter!"
"This is a grave matter. Let His Majesty decide."
Inside the Palace of Eternal Prosperity, incense burned quietly.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"
Huang Hong bowed deeply, eyes bright with delight. "The Foundation Establishment Pill is in hand! Soon Your Majesty will step into Foundation Establishment. With the Dragon Abyss and the Imperial Jade Seal, the throne will command even the Immortals and shield the realm!"
Emperor Cao Kai's expression was cold as still water. He asked, "Have you traced where Sun Xiangzong's relics came from?"
"Most likely still tied to the Far North."
Huang Hong straightened and answered solemnly. "Since Sun Xiangzong's death, this servant has searched relentlessly. Not only I—even Immortals and demonic cultivators have sought those items."
"Continue searching."
Emperor Longqing flicked his whisk. "Only by reclaiming everything once held by the Northern Guardian can I truly do as I have said—protect all under heaven. I will soon enter seclusion. When I emerge, I expect a definite answer."
"This servant understands."
Huang Hong rose to leave—but before a cup of tea had cooled, he rushed back, face pale.
"Your Majesty! Chen—Chen Sanshi has rebelled!"
The old emperor froze for a brief moment, then smiled faintly—a cold, curved smile that soon faded. "So, Zizhan, you've left your hatred for me to your disciple to avenge. I believed my virtue and patience could reform Chen Sanshi, make him a pillar of my rule. But I raised a serpent at my breast. The general I nurtured with such care has turned and bitten my hand. Hah—what irony."
"Your Majesty, calm yourself. Think of it as feeding a wild dog that can never be tamed," Huang Hong said anxiously. "Right now the critical issue is that Chen Sanshi, using Yunzhou and Guandu as pretexts, has burned the spiritual grain, raised beacon fires across 800 li, and gathered 100,000 soldiers to besiege Liangzhou City. What should we do?"
"Rebels," the emperor said coldly, "never amount to anything."
He stood, his voice as deep as the Nine Hells. "Whatever reason they use for rebellion, we will erase that reason entirely. Stall for time. Once my seclusion is done, no one—not man nor Immortal—will escape my grasp."
"This servant understands."
Back in Zhongjue Hall, after endless shouting and accusations, Yan Maoxing stormed out, followed by Prince Qi and Prince Qin, their faces livid.
On the way back, Prince Qi clapped Yan Maoxing's shoulder. "Fear not, Lord Yan. My brother and I won't let Ming Qingfeng get his way."
The court was now split beyond repair.
The Yan faction was still the Yan faction, but the old Crown Prince's faction had slowly shifted under Prince Jin's control.
If the Yan family fell, Princes Qi and Qin would lose all influence. They had no choice but to protect their ally.
"Thank you, Your Highnesses," Yan Maoxing said, bowing deeply. "The empire cannot go a day without an emperor—nor without a crown prince. When this storm passes, even if it costs me my life, I will ensure Your Highness is named the next heir to the throne!"
They parted ways.
Yan Maoxing hurried back to the Yan Estate.
In the Wutong Courtyard, everything seemed unchanged.
The aged Grand Secretary Yan Liang, dressed in fine silk, sat on his wicker chair, leisurely scattering colorful seeds to feed the birds. The chaos of the capital might as well have been happening in another world.
"Father, don't worry," Yan Maoxing said quickly. "We're safe. Everything was handled cleanly. Fang Qingyun's bluster means nothing—he has no real evidence. I've already reached an understanding with Princes Qi and Qin. We'll turn this whole affair on Ming Qingfeng instead."
The old man said nothing. He just kept feeding the birds, hand steady, eyes calm, as if none of it mattered.
"Father, why aren't you saying anything? Are you just going to sit here and wait for death? Fine then! You're old, I get it—some things are too much for you to handle now. Leave it to me! I'll write a letter right now, find a general from the Three Prefectures to act as a false witness, and stir the waters before they can settle!"
Yan Maoxing stormed toward the study, furious but determined. He pushed open the door, ready to grind ink and start writing, but the moment he crossed the threshold, his body froze stiff.
On the desk before him sat a lacquered tray.
Within it—laid upon a sheet of golden silk—were two objects: a roll of white silk, and a flask of imperial wine. A choice of two.
"Father… this—this came from the palace?!"
Yan Maoxing's voice trembled. His knees weakened as he grabbed the doorframe for balance. "What's the meaning of this?! What is this supposed to mean?! After everything our family has done for him—after all the filth we've cleaned for his court—how could he—"
"It was I who requested death," the old Grand Secretary Yan Liang said calmly, his voice steady but faint. "I'm already halfway into the grave. His Majesty, in his mercy, allowed me this chance. Once I'm gone, you will leave the capital. Find Changqing in Northern Liang, and the two of you escape to Western Qi. From there, live quietly under new names.
"We've saved enough silver over the years—it'll be more than enough for you both to live out your lives in comfort.
"Now go pack. The palace has granted me three days. You have those same three days to leave the capital."
In the Marquis of Wuan's Mansion, the air was still.
Within the pavilion, a Go board lay between Fang Qingyun and Prince Yan, Cao Zhi.
"Your Highness," Fang Qingyun said softly, fingers turning a single black stone, "it's time to move. If my calculations are right, His Majesty has already ordered Grand Secretary Yan to take his own life."
"As I've said before—'Yan' must always fall, but never truly die.
"If the old man is killed outright, His Majesty will immediately issue a new decree—launching a campaign against Eastern Qing, and reducing the spiritual grain tax as compensation. Then the situation will become troublesome."
He set the stone down with precision. "Tomorrow His Majesty departs for Mount Kunlun to begin his seclusion. That is when we strike. Whether we succeed or fail, we proceed exactly as planned—draw Prince Qin and Prince Qi into this mess as our scapegoats.
"Only then…"
He pressed the stone firmly onto the board.
"…can we act with righteous cause."
Clack.
The sound of the stone landing was crisp and final.
"Of course," said Prince Cao Zhi, twirling a white piece between his fingers. "Everything's arranged. My fourth and eighth brothers—Qi and Qin—are utter fools. They're more useful than allies. They'll do whatever I tell them to."
He smirked. "But once this begins, staying in the capital will be too dangerous for you, General Fang. Why not come with us? When we raise our banners, we'll need a strategist like the Phoenix Chick to guide us in shaping the realm."
"No objection."
Fang Qingyun picked up the jade flute beside the board. "Then I shall follow Your Highness's command."
On the fourteenth day of the ninth month, seventy-sixth year of the Longqing Era, the Emperor of Great Sheng departed for Mount Kunlun, to enter seclusion and offer incense along the way, proclaiming blessings to the people.
Suddenly—
From the clear blue heavens, a sword cultivator descended, his aura surging far beyond the twelfth layer of Qi Refinement. Hovering midair, his voice thundered like rolling drums.
"Cao Kai! I, Cui Zichen of Seeking Immortal Tower, have come to take your dog life—!"
The sword fell like a lightning bolt.
"Assassin!"
"There's an assassin!"
Steel rang everywhere.
Several cultivators rose into the sky in response.
For a brief but terrible moment, the heavens above Mount Kunlun blazed with sword light and spiritual energy. When the storm ended, both sides lay broken and bloodied.
The sword cultivator from Seeking Immortal Tower fled wounded and empty-handed—he had failed to draw forth the Dragon Abyss Sword. The assassination failed.
Emperor Longqing was gravely injured and soon withdrew from the public eye, vanishing into closed cultivation.
That same day, under secret orders and manipulation, Princes Qi and Qin, together with Yan Maoxing, sent assassins to kill Prince Jin, Cao Huan.
But Cao Huan escaped, protected by Prince Yan, Cao Zhi, fleeing the capital under the cover of night.
From that point onward, Princes Qi and Qin, along with the Yan faction, controlled the court. The Yan clan still lived—and the empire seethed with fury.
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, and Prince Yan, Cao Zhi fled east, rallying local generals and noble families under the banner of "cleansing the Emperor's side." They raised 80,000 troops and seized control of three provinces.
"Just as planned," Cao Zhi murmured later, recalling that day's chaos. "We never had the strength to kill Father—not even to force him to draw the Dragon Abyss Sword. But Fang Qingyun foresaw this. With his scheme, we've dragged everyone down with us.
"Now, Prince Qin and Prince Qi are bound to the Yan faction.
"If Father kills the Yan family to calm the people—what about the two princes? Will he kill them too?
"And if he kills them… what about me and my sixth brother, who are now tied to the assassination attempt through Seeking Immortal Tower?
"He can't kill us all. If he does, the court will be empty.
"So no—Prince Qin, Prince Qi, and the Yan family will live.
"My sixth brother, Prince Jin, has a spotless reputation—no worse than the former Crown Prince. And now, after surviving the Yan faction's assassination, the people adore him.
"With the world's outrage on our side, our armies rise with justice.
"What a brilliant Phoenix Chick. What a masterful hand. Together with that White Robe, you've plunged the realm into chaos!"
From then on, the world only knew this—
The Emperor was in seclusion.
The Yan faction, with Princes Qi and Qin, corrupted the government.
And those who rose in arms did so for righteousness—to cleanse the court.
On the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month, Prince Jin, Cao Huan, issued a royal decree—inviting the White Robe of Liangzhou to join him in cleansing the Emperor's side.
The White Robe of Liangzhou—had found his cause.
By late October of that same year, Eastern Qing, Southern Xu, and Western Qi, taking advantage of Great Sheng's internal strife, launched simultaneous invasions.
And thus it was said—
"When Great Sheng lost the White Robe, all under heaven rose against it."
From that day onward, the Dragon City knew no more flying generals to defend its borders.
And so began an age of war and ruin—
A world in chaos.